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Some simple things I enjoy that cost little to nothing. Prior to finding Minimalism, my list would have been more along the lines of what expensive handbag or cell phone I could purchase.

In no particular order–

-My morning coffee. I have a Keurig that I will be retiring soon, and my Dad donated a French Press to me. I love grinding beans before I brew- I have yet to find a more soothing morning routine and a better cup of coffee anywhere.

-Listening to the birds in the hedges. I am up early enough with the pups and my son so I can listen to their music rather than turn on a station on Alexa. It’s sweet, and pure and good for the soul. Plus there are no commercials.

-Painting. Something I do not do enough. In all fairness, I am two weeks from delivering baby, so it’s sort of uncomfortable to sit at the canvas for hours as before. I enjoy interpreting the world around me however I want to- If you’ve never painted before, it’s great for focus and also relaxing.

-Reading. Or being read to- I have an Audible subscription I use on long trips, and I make use of the Kindle app on my phone and tablet. Sometimes I get nostalgic for a good ‘real’ book in my hand, and I don’t feel guilty picking one up at the book store.

-Listening to my son play. He has a big imagination, as most kids do, and likes to tell stories aloud as he creates things with Legos. I would never be able to record all of the stories he’s spun- I hope my memory holds so that I can replay them when I am old.

-Baking bread. I cheat. I use a Breadman machine I got several years ago at a yard sale for $2. I’m not the best baker, but this lets me feel like I could be- and the smell of fresh bread baking makes any day better. I also like that I control how much sugar is in it, and there’s no weird preservatives. One of the best $2 investments I have ever made.

-Doing my own manicures. Blame it on my years in ‘corporate’ life- I do like a fresh polish. I do refuse to pay the money that I used to spend on one. I make my own hand scrub with olive oil and sugar; use almond oil for a hand lotion, then file and paint. It took me several months to get competent in painting them. Well worth the effort, though. And I find good quality polish on sale at grocery stores- last one I picked up was $.75.

-Gardening. Although this year it may be scaled back to some planters of tomatoes and peppers, I like the process of watching seeds grow. It also gets me some Vitamin D time in the sun and a yummy harvest at the end of the season.

-Hot foot bath. I don’t have time in the day for a full bath, but I sneak 10 minutes in here and there for a warm Epson Salt and essential oil foot bath. No essential oils on hand? No problem, some sliced lemon or orange, or vanilla to scent it works just as well. Perfect for unwinding before bedtime.

If I sit a little longer, I’m sure I’d think of more simple things to bring me joy- Feel free to share yours in the comments section.